First recorded on 15th Apr with a brief seven on EHF on 28th May the best count. Odd singles on return passage.

European Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) Uncommon winter visitor.

Again quite difficult to find around the flashes the first was over RF on 28th Feb. On 14th Aug a superb summer plumage adult could be viewed with the summer plumaged Grey Plover, a flashes one off. Odd singles then particularly over MGT.

Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) Rare visitor and passage migrant.

On 14th Aug a superb adult in full summer plumage was by EHF. On 12th Sep in heavy rain two flew around EHF but did not stay around.

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)

Common resident and abundant winter visitor.

The fact that over 100 were back at EHF on 28th Jun suggests breeding attempts by departing birds were short lived. Around 1000 to 1300 were present around EHF and PHF in both winter periods.

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) Scarce passage migrant

A juvenile was on EHF on 12th Aug.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant.

Just odd birds on spring passage and in the summer period. On return passage again just odd individuals with occasional birds seen through to December.

Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)

Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant.

As in 2013 and 2014 just four birds wintered in the first winter period. The first returning breeding adult was on EHF on 22nd July with the first juvenile on 9th Aug also on EHF. Seven juveniles were on EHF on 26th Aug. A maximum of seven around EHF in the second winter period.

Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus) Scarce winter visitor.

Two were flushed from the GF area on 16th Jan. On 30th Sep one showed well on PHF and was much appreciated. One was seen on MGT on 29th Oct.

A rather under recorded species this year with just odd counts of twenty or so birds in the log book.

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)

Fairly common winter visitor. Uncommon summer visitor.

On MGT 700 were counted on 15th Oct. Approximately 3000 were around MGT/RF on 25th October

Yellow-legged Gull (Larus michahellis) Regular passage migrant.

Regularly seen throughout excepting May, June and July with birds from EHF/PHF and RF.

Caspian Gull (Larus cachinnans) Scarce visitor.

What was presumably the same adult was seen intermittently between 1st Jan and 7th Mar around EHF. A 1st w was seen on PHF on 2nd Jan. An adult was seen on PHF on 25th Nov.

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

Fairly common winter visitor. Uncommon summer visitor.

Several thousand reported regularly from MGT in both winter periods.

Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) Scarce winter visitor.

At least one adult and one 1st w commuted between MGT and EHF/PHF in the first winter period with an adult and 1st w also present from 10th Dec to at least the 14th Dec in the same area.

Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) Scarce winter visitor.

A 1st w commuted between MGT and PHF on 27th Feb and 3rd Mar

Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) Uncommon winter visitor.

On 5th Jan a splendid count of 281 on and around PHF, this total was not bettered all year.

Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) Scarce passage migrant.

Two records this year with one on EHF on 12th Sep with a different individual also on EHF on 15th Sep.

Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Uncommon passage migrant.

Two were on WLF on 8th May; these birds attempted to breed but were not successful, after that odd birds were seen particularly around EHF with six on 20th Aug.

Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) Scarce passage migrant.

After last year’s blank one flew through EHF on 6th May, with others through PHF on 18th Jun and another through EHF on 21st Jun.

Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) Common resident.

Regular around EHF throughout.

Stock Dove (Columba oenas) Uncommon resident.

Common throughout especially in the fields around EHF. On 15th Jan 141 were present. Breeding recorded.

Common Woodpigeon (Columba palumbus) Common resident.

Common throughout. Breeding confirmed. Visible migration from MGT throughout October peaked with 2815 on 31st Oct,

Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Common resident.

Common throughout. Breeding confirmed.

Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) Scarce passage migrant.

One was heard calling on 24th Jun from EHF. On 16th Sep a juvenile flew over PHF.

Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) Very rare visitor

On 1st Jan what was presumably the bird from 2013 and 2014 was seen in the hedgerow around GF, it was seen until at least 15th Mar. On 11th Sep one was back in the same area, one or two were then present to the year end.

No breeding site reported but arguably more regular than in recent years around EHF.

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) Common summer visitor.

Bred once again and regular throughout, 98 flew over MGT on 1st Oct.

House Martin (Delichon urbica) Common summer visitor.

Breeding not recorded but regular throughout.

Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis) Very rare passage migrant.

One was on MGT on 4th Aug.

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)

Uncommon winter visitor and passage migrant.

Regular on spring passage from MGT with 45 on 15th Mar. 288 were over MGT on 26th Sep. The highest count was 294 over MGT on 1st Oct.

Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

Uncommon passage migrant and summer visitor.

An average year with nearly all records from EHF. A juvenile was on EHF on 4th Sep. Visible migration from MGT produced several flyovers in October.

Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

Fairly common resident and winter visitor.

Regular in the autumn and winter periods particularly around EHF and PHF.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) Fairly common resident.

Commonly recorded throughout the year with 39 on 4th Mar around EHF, “White Wagtails” first seen on 15th Mar. The maximum from visible migration counts was 42 on 20th Oct.

Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) Abundant resident.

Regular throughout. Breeding confirmed.

Dunnock (Prunella modularis) Common resident.

Regular throughout. Breeding confirmed.

European Robin (Erithacus rubecula) Abundant resident.

Regular throughout. Breeding confirmed.

Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) Scarce migrant.

A bumper year at MGT with at least eight sightings on spring passage after the first two on 19th Apr. The first returning birds were also from MGT with three on 23rd Aug. Two more in Sep from MGT with another on 1st Oct.

Common Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) Scarce winter visitor.

Another excellent year from the MGT area, seen in Jan, Feb and Mar with a peak of three on 14th Mar. Regular again in the second winter period with one’s and two’s regular.

Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) Uncommon passage migrant.

The first was seen on 14th Mar on MGT (one week earlier than 2014); fifteen were on MGT on 30th Apr. On return a maximum of five on 22nd Sep from MGT.

One around EHF in Jan otherwise no change in numbers with records from throughout the recording area. One also in December around EHF.

Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus Sibilatrix) Very rare visitor.

One was down the side lane at EHF on 24th July; this was just the third flashes record after one on 3rd July 1976 and one on 27th Apr 1983. Interestingly the bird on 3rd July 1976 was considered “an unusual date for this species”, with two of the three records having occurred in July maybe this date was not so unusual after all.

Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) Common summer visitor.

The first singing bird was found on 10th Apr then regularly recorded throughout though never common.

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)

Fairly common resident and winter visitor.

Recently fledged juveniles seen in July around EHF may suggest breeding nearby.

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) Uncommon summer visitor.

Once again no spring records but several on return passage, the first on 13th Aug.

Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) Common resident.

Common throughout. Breeding confirmed.

Willow Tit (Parus montanus) Uncommon visitor, has bred

Two were found in FF on 25th Feb and were still present until at least 15th Mar. On 22nd Jun a juvenile was seen in the hedgerow by FFF, hopefully this was a bird raised from the two seen earlier in the year at FF.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) Common resident.

Common throughout. Breeding confirmed.

Great Tit (Parus major) Common resident.

Common throughout. Breeding confirmed.

Coal Tit (Periparus ater) Fairly common resident.

Regular throughout.

European Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) Common resident.

Regular around FF but also recorded regularly from around EHF.

Eurasian Treecreeper (Certhia familiaris) Common resident.

Common again in all suitable habitats. Breeding confirmed.

Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Uncommon resident.

Regularly recorded from EHF and FF, numbers could well be on the increase.

Common Magpie (Pica pica) Common resident.

Common throughout, breeding proven. A count of 43 was recorded on stubble by RF on 4th Sep.

Very commonly recorded particularly from MGT with flocks of several hundred not uncommon this year.

Rook (Corvus frugilegus) Common resident.

The rookery still in FF and also commonly seen on MGT throughout the year.

Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) Common resident.

Common throughout the area once again. Breeding confirmed.

Common Raven (Corvus corax) Regular visitor and resident.

Recorded in every month, six were over MGT on 21st Feb.

Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Common resident and regular winter visitor.

On 20th Nov around 2000 were counted around MGT, juveniles were regularly seen on MGT so breeding nearby was suspected.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Common resident.

Seen around EHF but only in small numbers.

Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) Fairly common resident.

Breeding confirmed again around EHF.

Common Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) Common resident and winter visitor.

Common throughout again. Breeding confirmed.

Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla) Scarce winter visitor.

The second winter period produced flyover birds from MGT on 12th Oct and 14th Oct. One was seen on and around the EHF feeders between 28th and 31st Oct.

European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris) Common resident.

Odd birds around the EHF feeders but under recorded or declining elsewhere.

European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) Fairly common resident.

Breeding proven, at least 220 were on MGT on 31st Aug.

Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)

Uncommon winter visitor and scarce resident.

Just odd singles in the first winter period but regular in the second winter period; on 6th Sep birds were back feeding in FF.

Common Linnet (Carduelis cannabina) Fairly common resident.

Bred around MGT, on Oct 29th 60 were on MGT.

Lesser Redpoll (Carduelis cabaret)

Uncommon passage migrant and winter visitor.

As with Siskin just odd individuals in the first winter period but regular throughout the second winter period, regularly noted over MGT with 26 on 17th Oct.

Common Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) Uncommon resident.

Seen around EHF regularly but up to six were around FF in early January.

Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella) Uncommon resident.

On 11th Jan 12 were feeding in a stubble field behind the railway and visible at times from within the recording area boundary when perching in trees. Four were over MGT on 10th Oct.

Common Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) Uncommon resident.

Regular and bred MGT, odd individuals and pairs around EHF.

Corn Bunting (Milaria Calandra) Very rare visitor. Formerly Bred.

An amazing record considering the abject decline of this species was the first Sandbach Flashes record since 1991 with one over MGT on 25th Oct, just reward for the finder after hours of visible migration watching at this location.